Thursday, May 28, 2009

Personal Diet & Exercise Routine - Day 1

I have been receiving many requests that I should record and post what my daily diet and exercise routine is like. Today will be the first day of that log. Please feel free to email or comment if you have questions.

Keep in mind that I experiment frequently with my diet and exercise routine so that I may discover the most ideal ways of doing things and therefore recommend them to others as a good practice. Hopefully this log will provide some insight to my experimentation and conclusions.


MY DIETARY HISTORY
Up until four months ago, I was 100% raw and 100% vegan for 7 years. I was fruitarian for a long period during that time. Three years ago I practiced breathariansim (no food or water) for 4 months. Two years ago I lived exclusively on unheated, unfiltered (raw) honey for 8 months. I have also strictly followed mono-eating and the Essene dietary protocol.

For the past four months I have been experimenting outside the 100% raw/vegan parameters to see what is a truly optimum, nutrient-rich diet.

Currently I am 80-90% raw and vegetarian. I follow an eclectic mix of low-fat, high-carb, medium-protein coupled with caloric restriction and some key Essene principles of eating.


IMPORTANT NOTE
It is important to realize that I am not experimenting with meat, fast foods, mashed potatoes and gravy, and things of that nature. Like most people, I grew up on that diet as a kid and teenager, and I already know how that went! I have already reached the conclusion that these foods are a poor source of fuel and an even poorer source of nutrients. Their production and consumption contributes greatly to a waste of our resources and is largely responsible for the large percentage of people that are overweight and obese (over 63% are over 30 lbs. overweight in the USA alone).


MAY 28 2009 - THURSDAY
MORNING
Cardio 30 min. (running outside)
Water

NOON
3 hours after running, I made 1/2 cup cooked Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free oats. Waited until it cooled to warm, added about 2 or 3 Tbsp. raw honey, organic cinnamon, and 1/4 cup organic frozen blueberries. This is my third day eating oatmeal and have found it agreeable to my digestion and provides a substantial amount of energy. I have been recommending that people do not consume grains, and while oats are a grain and they are currently working out all right, I still insist that grains (i.e. rice, wheat, corn, millet, quinoa, et al.) are not meant to be eaten year-round or even at all if we have fruits and other natural foods available. I will be rotating oats out of my diet in a short period of time to mimic the way I would eat them in a natural or rural setting.

1 Tbsp. bee pollen. I eat it straight out of the jar.

EVENING
Smoothie consisting of water, ice, 1 scoop NOW brand 100% pea protein, stevia leaf powder, 1/4 tsp. citric acid powder from lemon, handful organic frozen blueberries. I felt like having a bit of tart flavor, hence the citric acid, but I noticed that it settles at the bottom (not very soluble) and is too sour for me, so I won't be making a smoothie that way again.

DAILY NUTRIENT TOTALS
CALORIES: 374
FAT: 4g
CARBOHYDRATES: 99g
PROTEIN: 33g (plus the numerous unaccounted-for free-form amino acids and enzymes in honey and bee pollen)

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Pre- and Post-Workout Drink

This drink is simple, tasty, and most important — effective.

Eating a meal before working out pulls too much blood to your digestion instead of your muscles. Drinking post-workout beverages containing maltodextrin (a corn-derived carbohydrate), artificial flavors and colors, and a whole host of chemicals is not wise either.

Fuel yourself and your workout with the following all-natural beverage instead:

INGREDIENTS:
16 oz. fresh spring water or quality filtered water
2 Tbsp. unheated (raw), unfiltered organic honey

NUTRITION PROFILE:
120 calories
34g carbohydrates
Free-form amino acids and enzymes (protein)
Low/Medium Glycemic Index (GI) of 55

DIRECTIONS:
Shake together in a mason jar, mix with a spoon, or put in a blender. Drink 30-60 minutes before your workout. Drink again 30-60 minutes after your workout so as not to inhibit your body's production and utilization of Human Growth Hormone (HGH). Once you begin to eat, HGH production stops, so wait 30-60 minutes after a workout to eat. Water, of course, is fine anytime.


WHY:
• Raw honey contains the necessary carbohydrates for your body to utilize while working out, but does not contain enough of them to inhibit your body's use of your own stored energy (fat).
• Contains a large amount of enzymes, which are proteins, and help with a variety of functions in your body, including digestion, energy, muscle recovery, etc.
• The antioxidants in honey help protect you against the free radicals and oxidation caused by exercising.
• Balances blood sugar post-workout and aids in muscle recuperation, according to several studies done by the University of Memphis Exercise and Sports Nutrition Laboratory.
• Water is necessary for hydrating your cells and brings nutrition to your muscles and brain, which helps to keep you going during exercise.
• Water pushes out the lactic acid generated by working out.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Healing Crohn's, IBS, Colitis, and Other Intestinal Disorders

In light of several friends asking me about how to help or heal their intestinal disorders, I have decided to write an article about it which I hope you find helpful.

IBS, Crohn's disease, and colitis are awful effects from an imbalance inside the body. These occurrences are helped by the following:

Nutrient-dense, soothing diet
Herbs
Supplements
Fasting

NUTRIENT-DENSE, SOOTHING DIET. Try removing all flesh foods, legumes, rice, and grains from the diet, as these all contain high level of insoluble fibers and indigestible proteins that bring added inflammation. Limit your consumption of nuts and seeds, as they tend to irritate the intestinal wall of those with Crohn's, colitis, and IBS. Move to excellent, functional foods like acacia fiber, chia seeds, fruits such as figs, cherries, and apples, and aloe vera (very soothing and healing for the intestines), and herbal teas.

HERBS. Now let us look at some herbs that are great for overall healing inside the body. Do not be afraid of herbs when it comes to medicine, as even today over 25% of our pharmaceuticals are made from herbs. The first treatise on herbal medicine was written in 2735 B.C., by the Chinese emperor Shen Nung, and this work is still in use today. The records of King Hammurabi of Babylon, circa 1800 B.C., offer instructions for using medicinal plants, including mint for digestive disorders. For intestinal disorders, which are a result of inflammation and imbalance, I recommend the following:

Bamboo powder
Dandelion root
Mesquite pod
Peppermint leaf (use the fresh leaf for an after-dinner tea)
Fennel seed
Chamomile (note: some people are allergic to the nettle family and should not consume chamomile)
Anise seed
Oregano
Caraway seed
Ginger root
Licorice root (soothing and healing for the intestines)
Charcoal ("soaks up" gas and toxins from the intestines)
Raw honey/ACV drink prior to meal, especially protein

SUPPLEMENTS. Try supplementing with enzymes. Bromelain, Papain and Serratiopeptidase as they are all anti-inflammatory. Enzymedica Repair Gold is a good one. Add rice bran solubles to a drink or smoothie for an amazing array of nutrients not found in many of today's foods (plus it tastes great - like vanilla). Raw, unfiltered honey is an awesome sweetener and powerful healer, used for centuries to treat digestive upsets and heal the intestines.

FASTING. Above all things, 3 days of fasting once a month is a powerful cure-all. It gives your body a break from digestion so it can turn its attention to catching up on some work and repairing what needs fixing (i.e. your intestines). Avoid all food for a full 3 days, and drink only natural spring water. Avoid lemon water, as that will stimulate your appetite.